The teenager's name was the most searched on Naver, South Korea's largest portal, as many swelled with pride at her performance. Kim's parents are South Koreans who emigrated to the United States in 1982.

But some social media users in the country are keenly imagining alternative lives for the unstoppable 17-year-old Californian, asking could she have achieved gold if she'd been born in South Korea?

"If she grew up in South Korea, she would just be a normal businesswoman," one user suggested, while another said "if she grew up in South Korea, she would be serving at a ski resort restaurant. Never become Korean. South Korea would bury your talent like a black-hole."

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'Would Kim have been a businesswoman in South Korea?', social media asks

Others were sceptical of why fellow South Koreans were only interested in Kim now she's famous.

"Now they are trying to associate with these South Korean-Americans who they used to ignore. Why not just support them?" one wrote.

Another suggested that the outpouring of love was misguided: "Please don't say she is South Korean. She is part of the US national team."

But however dazzling Kim's charm, it could never win over absolutely everyone.

"Chloe will positively affect South Korea's reputation… But some are saying her fame is meaningless," one user wrote, adding "Do you really think winning a medal for South Korea is only thing that matters?"